I think it's important for my kids to know my family's language(s). (1) I feel it's part of their heritage, (2) will give them an advantage when looking for jobs, (3) and will open them up to more potential friends and entertainment (eg music, tv, movies, magazines) I'm disappointed when I see Asian immigrant parents speak only English to their kids when they are very young thinking that it will help them assimilate faster into society, when in fact they will master English no matter what since they will be immersed in it as they grow up. Instead, I wish these parents would speak their native languages with their kids early on to help them retain a new language... What are some of your thoughts?
I agree with what ur sayin... I used to talk loadsa english...but my mum yells at me LoL!! But its okies!! Alto...I really should learn Hakka too But its okies coz we all talk canto...its just when we go hk...>.<"
Yah, I remember my parents never spoke to me in English when I was growing up. The only time I spoke English was when I was at school -shrug
LoL!! I speak to my dad like 50/50 in canto and english! Now I'm startin to talk more in english to my mum LoL! And without her biting my head off!! My dads not really that bothered tho!! ^^ Mum always yells at me like 'Nei d english ho lek ar!!' LoL And stuff like ur not gonna kno any chinese!! >.<" I'm sorry mum!! -cry2
lol xD speak more cantonese on PA xD er.. my auntie says that my chinese is getting worse cause i kept talking to her in english >.>''
LoL! Yeh but the thing is coz I think my canto is improvin...and thats when I speak english to her kno she dun get annoyed LoL!! *yay* But the thing is I dunno chinese chinese, can only do chingalish!! >.<"
Wow really? I feel strange speaking English to my parents cuz I know that's not their native language. It's like speaking Chinese to a White person who learned Chinese as a second language... Well, I can tell you that because I speak Canto & Mando fluently, I got my job over other applicants (whites who only spoke english) and I also ended up marrying someone who speaks Mandarin cuz I learned another language. Otherwise, wouldn't have happened if I couldn't communicate to the in-laws lol.
Yeh but the thing is I dun speak fluent english to them!! My mum would kill me!>.<" I add some english here and there with my mum!! Hehehe ^^ I can speak a lil more with my daddy tho ^_____________^ But yeh!! I dun really mind which I speak! But sometimes u need to say something in the other language coz its not quite the same!
Oh yesh!! LoL!! Now....I need to learn hakka!! >.<" Alto...I understand like 90% of it anyways...alto I cant speak it... Love to learn mando too ^^
Never said anything about forcing them, but if you only speak to them in Chinese and only answer them if they speak to you in chinese, they'll just do it de facto because it feels right to them... I never once felt forced when my parents did that... And I agree, if you try to force kids to do anything, they'll just do the opposite haha -rolleyes
it's better for kids to grow up speaking their native languages.. cuz at school you'll learn english no matter what still. that is, if ur in US or Canada and such. most asians that i know that speaks english without knowing their own languages or speaks very little of it, mostly grew up and have regrets. cuz their parents always or mostly speak english to them at home. Or sometimes cuz they have white, black, or mexican.. mum or dad. And the other is asian. It kind of sucks for them.. but i sort of felt sorry for them too. Or sometimes kids these days are too much into speaking english or thinks that speaking in english ONLY is cool, so then they mostly talk to their parents in english instead. instead of their native languages... For me, I think I would let my kids speak chinese only and let them grew up out of it. Cuz then they could speak english at school all they want or to their friends. But to me, I would let them speak only in chinese to family members. haha... i'll be hard on them abit cuz i want them to learn how to speak in chinese instead of too much english.
yeah...i would like my kids to know my family's language....it doesn't hurt to know another language and it surely is very benifical
